Officials Re-establish Anti-Terrorism Commission

The Costa Rican government this week re-established a commission to combat terrorism that had been around since 2004, according to a statement from Casa Presidencial.

The creation of the Inter-institutional Commission on Terrorism (CISTE) in 2004 was mandated by the Organization of American States (OAS) and United Nations. Its goal is to help state entities coordinate on preventing terrorist acts by working internationally and promoting legislation against terrorism, the statement said.

“We are all at risk of terrorist attacks. After Sept. 11, we should all be prepared to react as quickly as possible before any type of incident,” said Vice-Minister of the Presidency José Torres, who oversaw a meeting Tuesday at Casa Presidencial to discuss the commission’s rebirth, according to the statement.

Representatives from the Foreign Relations, Public Security, Finance, Justice and Public Works and Transport ministries as well as those from the General Customs Administration, Civil Aviation, Costa Rican Drug Control Institute (ICD) and Superintendence of Financial Entities (SUGEF) will make up the commission.

Torres announced Tuesday that Costa Rica will also assume the vice-presidency of the Caribbean Financial Action Group (GAFIC), made up of 25 countries, which aims to combat money laundering associated with drug trafficking and terrorist acts, according to the statement.

Torres also called for the Legislative Assembly to approve the proposed Law against the Financing of Terrorism, which allows for the financial records of potential terrorists to be tracked.

Casa Presidencial spokesman Esteban Arrieta said that the government knows of no imminent threat of terrorism to the country.